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Being from the 305, Broward was often considered foreign and unexplored land. It is also home to many former Dade residents, contributing to a Black food ecosystem that is vibrant despite lacking flagship sit down service restaurants. The smaller mom and pops pack great flavor with a true celebration of Caribbean culinary amazingness.

Enjoying these quaint, yet amazingly delicious spots throughout the year has truly been a wonderful experience. We created this year’s list by tallying all the tags and mentions on our survey post and reviewing the standard rating sites. Of course, our primary assessments were conducted by our food review team that PAID TO EAT AT ALL OF THESE SPOTS to formulate Broward County’s Best 10 Black Owned Restaurants of 2022.

Here are your stars Broward:

#1

Swirl Wine Bistro

4976 W Atlantic Blvd, Margate, FL 33063

Phone: (954) 280-9700

Swirl Wine Bistro is not just one of Broward County’s Best restaurants, is easily one of the best in state.  Matthew and Judith Able—the proprietor and chef, opened this quaint, yet fine dining establishment a little under five years ago with the goal of providing chef inspired international cuisine with a strong Caribbean influence. I haven’t felt this strongly about a South Florida eatery since experiencing deliciousness from Chef David Shim at COTE in Miami’s Design District. Outside of groundbreaking cuisine, these amazing culinarians share an ability to create intimate informal dining experiences supported by a vast yet carefully curated wine selection.

The epitome of a “hidden gem,” the bistro is easily lost inside the moderately sized Margate, GL strip mall. Adorned with beautiful local artwork, a plush couch, love seat, and cushioned bar stools, you might forget you’re in Margate because it feels like you’re at a Parisian sidewalk café. The cuisine is deliberate, innovative, and robust with each course prepared to order and delivered to the table with the same artistry as the painted canvases gracing the walls.

A true intersectionality of European culinary art, African flavor and seasoning, with Caribbean/African-American soulful influences characterize the mainstays at Swirl. Their most notable entree, the Oxtail Ravioli is served with a light truffle brown butter and is constructed using house made pasta. You heard correct. She makes the pasta in house. The noodles were thin and bendy with a great consistency for a pronounced bite to go toe to toe with any Italian grandmother’s version. I especially liked the flavor of the oxtails, which were all meat and no fat. The other entrees here provide an equal wow factor and you will find yourself on a culinary field trip as your eyes peruse the scrumptious possibilities.

#2

Chef Rose Jamaican Cuisine

8308 W Oakland Park Blvd, Sunrise, FL 33351

Phone: (954) 999-5371

Jerk is a spice seasoning associated with the Jamaican community. Dark brown and wet, it includes hints of cinnamon, cloves, garlic, brown sugar, ginger, nutmeg, and sometimes scallions with pimento and scotch bonnet peppers being the most dominate flavors. Jerk originated from Western Africa, via escaped Coromantee Africans who brought their cooking traditions with them when they fled from slavery. They used spices and herbs native to the island of Jamaican in place of African ingredients.

I was thrilled to find an eatery that not only made their jerk seasoning in house, but also their own sauces and seasonings from scratch! And we welcome the craftsmanship and dedication to Halal cuisine within a Jamaican space. Impressed from the start, everything I had was exceptional. I have not experienced their deep flavor profiles in any Jamaican eatery in the state, not just the county.

Chef Rose is a master of flavor through natural means. From the Rasta Pasta to the Oxtails, you can’t compare this cuisine to grandma’s cooking, because he is simply too sophisticated to be considered home cooking. This chef is a high pedigree and it shows. The natural juices, the falafel options, the cabbage tasting like mana, and the authentic flavor achieved bring joy to a foodie’s entire dining experience. Oh, and his vegetarian and vegan options are unrivaled in the area. Chef Rose is by far, the best Jamaican Restaurant in South Florida. My favorite thing was the cabbage, Rasta pasta, oxtails, curry chicken, ok, who am I kidding, I didn’t have anything I didn’t like here.

#3

The Rabbit Hole – Elevated Vegan Comfort Cuisine

2659 E Atlantic Blvd, Pompano Beach, FL 33062

Phone: (954) 419-4899

The Hungry Black Man Media isn’t just about food reviews, but also unparalleled culinarily driven events and activations. For six years, we’ve been curating the state’s largest annual vegan festival where we celebrate Black vegan chefs and culinarians on the sands of Miami Beach! Creating vegan cuisine comparable to some of the nation’s most notable soulful vegan chefs is hard to match, but a small eatery in Pompano Beach does just that.

Under the culinary leadership of Chef Samuel Woods, the Rabbit Hole Restaurant has radically redefined the vegan landscape of Broward County. The flavorful cuisine is creative, nostalgic, and robust. Most, if not all, of their meat substitutions are imported from various countries derived from all natural vegan sources. One of their most basic, yet memorable creations was the amazing vegan hot dog. Its taste and texture were almost indistinguishable from the ubiquitous Coney Island Chili dog of Detroit. I ate the entire thing with a side of AMAZING FRIES that they apparently do something special to, because I found them addictive. After tasting the burger, I decided they rename it Vegan Burger Heaven, because that is how I felt biting into this deliciousness. The meatballs were also another standout. The spot is just good and memorable for all the right reasons.

#4

Cleveland’s Old Fashion Ice Cream

6933 Miramar Pkwy, Miramar, FL 33023

Phone: (754) 888-9152

It’s always summer in South Florida, and as such, ice cream is a year-round affair. The delicious frozen dessert has delivered happiness for hundreds of years, but received its most significant makeover by Augustus Jackson, a 19^th century African-American confectioner who served as a White House chef while running his own catering and confection business in Philadelphia. In 1832, he pioneered new cooling techniques for ice cream, yielding the modern version of the dessert we all enjoy today, earning his well-deserved title, “Father of Ice Cream.”

Despite creating several amazing flavors, including butter pecan, Mr. Jackson was not able to receive or apply for any patents. Interestingly, during the 19^th Century, African-Americans ran a small monopoly on ice cream in Philadelphia, even causing riots when flavors were unavailable.

Carrying on the Jackson legacy is Mr. Cleveland Smith with Cleveland’s Old Fashion Ice Cream

Cleveland Smith has been making ice-cream for 40 years and is master craftsman of flavors. Creating groundbreaking flavors like Bun and Cheese, Jerk Chicken, and classics like Butter Pecan, Rum Raisin, and Vanilla amongst his over 100 flavors! Like some others on the list, it’s not just Broward’s best, this is one of the best ice cream parlors in the NATION! His hand crafted from scratch ice cream is characterized by its silky-buttery texture bursting with real and fresh locally sourced ingredients. This is a must visit!

#5

Noodle Station Bowls, Bao, & Beer

3045 N Federal Hwy Unit 60B, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33306

Phone: (954) 990-5460

Chef Walter Harris is a kindred spirit because chef is a Blerd. The owner and operator of Noodle Station in Fort Lauderdale is a Black Nerd, a group of free-spirited, free-thinking lovers of everything authentic and thought-provoking. Blerds comprise an estimated 25% of the Black population of the United States with many African-Americans not knowing that they are in fact, a BLERD.

Within BLERD culture, there are sub categories of interest, like Anime, a dramatic adult cartoon with characters battling one another representing opposing forces with varied philosophies, goals, and objectives. Originating from Japan, Anime pulls Blerds deeper into its origin and culture, which is what happened to Chef Harris. He’s so passionate about Anime and Japanese culture that he visited Japan to further immerse himself.

After returning to the U.S., Chef Harris resolved to open a Japanese Noodle themed business and did just that in February 2020. When we visited, I was thoroughly impressed with EVERYTHING! This brother took this theme and delivered authenticity, deliciousness, and thoughtfulness.

Now, for those who have never enjoyed Japanese Noodles, here’s a quick crash course into their deliciousness. Noodle Station serves three of the eight different types of Japanese Noodles – Ramen, Udon, and Soba. Each noodle type is boiled and served in different flavored broths along with various meat and vegetable toppings. Ramen is the most popular and is used in amazing soups. The culinary style of all the broths available are of the Ramen variety and can be used with other noodle types such as Udon and Soba.

Noodle Station’s broths are delicious and can be vegan or non-vegan. Making a delicious ramen isn’t easy especially if it’s made from scratch, like at this swanky eatery. The taste of ramen mainly depends on the soup, and it requires time, effort, and skill to successfully create the hearty meal. Chicken bone, pork bone, dried sardines (niboshi), and/or kombu are used to make soup stock traditionally along with adding vegetables, such as ginger, negi onion, garlic, or/and mushrooms.  Categorized by soup flavors, there are mainly four kinds of ramen: shio ramen (salt flavored soup), shoyu ramen (soy sauce flavored soup), tonkotsu ramen (pork bone based creamy soup), miso ramen (miso flavored soup). Common ramen toppings are negi, shinachiku (seasoned bamboo shoots), nori (dried seaweed), boiled egg, narutomaki, and lots more. Now that you have at least a novice understanding of Japanese Noodle Soups, you need to plan your visit because EVERYTHING IS AMAZING! Don’t forget to try the BAO buns and the fried rice. My favorite bowl was the American Samurai, but I found myself literally slurping, gulping, and chewing, while reveling in the awesome aromatics from each fragrant and bright bowl.

#6

La Belle Jacmelienne Café

3328 S University Dr, Miramar, FL 33025

Phone: (954) 381-3886

African-Americans have a long-shared history with Haiti that includes Frederick Douglass fighting for Haitian sovereign respectability when he was the first Black Ambassador of the United States. Many African Americans escaped this country’s brutal enslavement by migrating to Haiti in what was known as the Southern Underground Railroad. And during her tenure, Congresswoman Shirley Chisolm broke down in tears as she successfully stood up to the Carter Administration, demanding that Haitians be able to migrate to the United States just like their Cuban counterparts. So, it is no wonder, that as an African-American, venturing to the island of Haiti for a food tour in 2017 was a no brainer. While there, I ate all over the island for fourteen days! Upon my return, I searched high and low for a Haitian restaurant that could capture the authentic flavors I had been introduced to in Haiti. Well, we found a couple. The first being this amazing eatery.

Ms. Bernadette, the owner, and her two mothers (mother and stepmother) are the cooks behind this amazing brand. The unpretentious flavors are bursting with amazing taste, spice, and unapologetic African culinary aesthetics combined with French flare! From the fan classics like griot to the more home style entrees like Lalo, this spot has just about perfected it all! They infuse what I call The Trinity of Haitian Cooking – cloves, garlic and thyme – into their natural and organic way of cooking. If you’ve been reluctant to try Haitian cuisine, this is a wonderful way to break the cycle of ignorance. My Haitian readers, please visit to validate my claims that it rivals your grandmother’s culinary goodness.

#7

Chef Tally World Famous Jerk Chicken BBQ

2481 SW 56th Terrace, West Park, FL 33023

Phone: (305) 761-3697

Chef Tally has been grilling and smoking meats in the West Park Community for over a decade.  While space, fire regulations, and outdated county policies may mean the early pits of Liberty City, Overtown, Hialeah, and even Miami Gardens are impossible to duplicate in Broward County, Chef Tally is working to not only bring back the nostalgia of the long gone roadside pits, but to also surpass expectations with a field trip to the corners of Kingston, Jamaica. The ribs and chicken are the stars here, with his smoked kissed jerk seasoned chicken and ribs with house made BBQ sauces giving sweet and tangy Carolina Gold vibes. One of the most consistent roadside pits in South Florida.

#8

Choublak Restaurant

2768 N University Dr, Sunrise, FL 33322

Phone: (954) 533-3049

I was very impressed with everything at Choublak Restaurant, which serves some of the best griot around. First thing I appreciated was the simplicity of their ingredients, and not having their meats drowned in MAGGI and MSG. Everything was seasoned using in house blends and prepared by ancestral cooking traditions for some of their staple entrees like the griot and other fritay offerings. The mac and cheese was the best we’d had in Broward county and the boulèt (Haitian meatball) was made to perfection with moist and tender ground beef inside a crispy exterior brandishing aromatic thyme and parsley with embedded garlic, onion, bell pepper and chilis spices. Lord have mercy.

Don’t even get me started with the legume deliciousness! This spot was seriously one of my favorite dining destinations in Broward. Haitian cuisine is quickly becoming one of, if not my favorite of all the Caribbean due to its fusing of rich, spicy, and explosive flavors. This truly eclectic culinary experience boasts at its core African foundational cooking with indigenous French and Middle Eastern influences. Head to Choublak for a quality Haitian dining experience.

#9

Just Spoons

7023 W Broward Blvd, Plantation, FL 33317

Phone: (954) 652-1117

Regulars at this, grits-forward, breakfast-all-day café in Plantation exude a country club mentality, looking at you with “How did YOU hear about OUR spot?” all over their faces. Maybe their sense of entitlement stems from the café’s reputation for having long waits and long lines of a devout and loyal customer base. My dining experience was filled with delicious wine-based cocktails, punches, and hand squeezed juices coupled with an intentional and nostalgic southern cuisine. Hats off to Chef Witherspoon for the French toast and country flavoring. From the soft scrambled country eggs, to the amazingly fluffy buttery and savory grits, to the perfectly fried catfish and the soothing R&B playing in the background, this is definitely one of Broward’s Best Brunch destinations.

#10

The Krazy Vegan

645 W Hallandale Beach Blvd Suite 111, Hallandale Beach, FL 33009

Phone: (305) 475-7299

What a time we live in where one of Broward county’s most delicious burger, well, isn’t a burger at all! The Krazy Vegan is serving up 100% plant-based gourmet burgers that will leave you scratching your head wondering how in the world is this not 100% USDA Prime Beef? The burgers and cheesesteak sandwiches are handcrafted and made to order with absolutely delicious, quality ingredients. Every condiment to bun selection is incredibly intentional and woven around their house made signature sauces. I especially love the Krazy AF burger that comes with two plant-based patties, vegan cheese, grilled onions, vegan bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, and their signature Krazy Sauce on a brioche bun. It is super filling and worth the almost $20 price tag. Don’t forget the delicious fries that taste best eaten hot.

The following two food businesses are not restaurants, but definitely belong in the top 10 and should not be missed.

 

The Sweet Spot Desserts & Cake Supplies

1021 N State Rd 7, Margate, FL 33063

(954) 532-4313

This spot has the best cupcakes in Broward. Find someone better, and I will change this. Until then, I have no need to write a review. I said what I said. Unless, you can send us somewhere that can beat them out, respect my authority please.

 

Taste Rite

9924 Pines Blvd, Pembroke Pines, FL 33024

Phone: (954) 998-6298

One of Broward County’s absolute treasures is Taste Rite Bakery! The house made patties are baked on site and filled with an array of delicious piping hot proteins and veggies. The nine delectable options include variations with seafood, beef, chicken, and veggies. You may want to order one of their delicious coco breads with your patty. Yes, more carbs! Take the patty and simply place it inside the coco bread for a truly memorable experience. Oh, and don’t you dare forget to get a loaf of Jamaican hard dough bread and their super processed cheese. Thank me later.  Also, there are assorted varieties of pound cakes, cinnamon rolls with raisins, puddings, and an interesting, totally scrumptious dessert called Rock Cake with hints of coconut throughout. You don’t want to leave Broward until you’ve had a Taste Rite patty.